Electric tooth brush



y 195% T, 1.: FOLEY ETAL, 2,709,227

ELECTRIC "room BRUSH Filed Feb. 20, 1952 IN VENTORS 7/?60A. F0 F6 (1 5??? Mfla V! 5 ATTURN EYE ELECTRIC TOOTH BRUSH Theo L. Foiey and John W. Davis, Red Blufl, Calif.

Appiication February 20, 1952, Serial No. 272,629

2 Claims. (Cl. 310-29) This invention relates to electrically operated or vibrated tooth brushes, and in particular a tooth brush handle having a tooth brush holding lever pivotally mounted in one end with the inner end of the lever adjustably connected to vibrating elements whereby the length of the strokes of the vibrations are adjustable.

The purpose of this invention is to facilitate cleaning teeth by activating a tooth brush whereby the brush moves upwardly and downwardly as it passes over the teeth.

In the conventional method of brushing teeth a tooth brush is carried across the uneven surfaces of the teeth, whereas a vertical stroke is recommended for eficient cleaning. However, owing to the time element the vertical stroke is seldom used. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates incorporating a vibrating action in a tooth brush holder whereby the tooth brush vibrates vertically as the brush is moved horizontally over the surfaces of the teeth.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for combining a vertical action with the conventionai horizontal motion of a tooth brush in cleaning teeth whereby the bristles of the brush work into the crevices between the teeth.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for imparting a vibrating action to a tooth brush as it is used in which the length of the vibrating stroke is adjustable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tooth brush having a vibrating element incorporated in the handle thereof which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a tooth brush having a brush holding lever pivotaily mounted in the end of a hollow handle with a socket on one end of the lever extended for removably holding a tooth brush and with the opposite end of the lever adjustably connected to a vibrating spring arm whereby with the arm vibrated with a solenoid between circuit making and breaking elements, a tooth brush carried by the lever is vibrated.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the improved vibrating tooth brush.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the toothbrush with one section of the handle removed, and with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking toward the end of the handle in which electrical contacts are provided.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the handle of the tooth brush being taken on line 44 of Figure 2 and showing the parts on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 4 taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

States Patent 0 ice Figure 6 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 4 taken on line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is also a section similar to that shown in Figure 4 taken on line i7 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved vibrating toothbrush of this invention includes a lever 10 pivotaliy mounted with a pin 11 between sections 12 and 13 of a handle, and having a socket 14 on the outer end for holding a tooth brush 15, a spring arm 16 mounted on a lug 17 extended from the end of a slider 1%, and a solenoid core 19 positioned in a button 20 of the slider.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the slider 18 is provided with flanges 2d and 25 by which the slider is mounted in the sections 12 and 13 of the handle, the flange 24 being positioned in a siot 26 and the flange 25 in a slot 27.

The spring arm SL6 is secured to the lug 17 with a screw and the opposite or free end of the spring arm is provided with a yoke in the arms of which a pin 3% is carried, and, as illustrated in Figure 6, the pin extends through a slot 31 in the inner end of the lever 19, whereby vibration of the spring arm 16 causes the outer or opposite end of the lever to vibrate.

The slider 13 is also provided with an arm 32 having an adjusting screw 33 therein and with the inner end of t 1e screw in engagement with the spring arm 16, the arm may be accurately adjusted so that an armature 34 thereon may be positioned in relation to the core 19 whereby as the core is energized the arm will be drawn toward the core.

The handle is provided with contact prongs and 35 which are positioned in a socket 37, the prong 35 being connected to the arm to with a wire 33 and the prong 36 being connected to a wire 39, which is wrapped around the core 19 to provide a solenoid, and from the solenoid the wire extends to an adjusting screw or contact 33.

The socket 14 on the outer end of the lever 10 is provided with a bayonet slot id in which a pin 41 positioned on a cylindrical section 42 of the shank 43 of a toot brush is inserted to hold the tooth brush to the lever and handle.

It will be understood that a handle may be provided with a plurality of brushes and the brushes may be of diiterent types and sizes.

The sections 12 and 13 of the handle are secured together by screws 44, as shown in Figure 4 and the meeting edges may be retained in assembled relation with lugs 45 which extend from one section over the inner surface of the other section.

With the parts assembled in this manner and with a plug of an electric cord inserted in the socket 37 in the end of the handie, the electric current energizes the coil of the solenoid whereby the core 1'9 draws the armature 34 toward the side of the handle whereby the arm 16 leaves the contact 33 breaking the circuit. The spring inherent in the arm 16 returns the arm so that the arm again contacts the end of the screw 33 to complete the circuit for a short period of time whereby the cycle is repeated.

The stroke of the vibration may be adjusted by moving the slider so that the pin 3* travels in the slot 31 and as the pin approaches a Etlcrtun or pin 11 the length of the stroke is increased whereby as it moves in the opposite direction the length of the stroke is decreased. By this means the vibrating elements are adjustable and with the parts arranged in this manner the handle may readily be opened for cleaning. The end of the handle through which the lever it! extends may be provided with a resilient washer or grommet 46 to prevent moisture from entering the handle.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vibrating tooth brush comprising a hollow handle, a lever having a brush holding socket on one end pivotally mounted in the handle and positioned with the end on which the socket is provided extended from one end of the handle, vibrating means in the handle and operatively connected to said lever, and the said vibrating means including a slider mounted for sliding adjustable movement in the handle and the slider being provided with a spring arm adjustably connected to said lever and a solenoid for vibrating the spring arm, and the said slider adapted to be moved for regulating the distance between the pivotal connection of the lever and the connection of the spring arm to the lever for varying the amplitude of the movement of said lever.

2. In a vibrating tooth brush, the combination which comprises a substantially hollow handle formed with a pair of complementary sections, a lever pivotally mounted in the handle and having an end extended from one end thereof, the extended end of the lever having a tooth brush holding socket thereon, said lever having an elongated slot in the opposite end thereof, a slider mounted for adjustable sliding longitudinal movement in the handle, a spring arm mounted on the slider, a yoke carried by one end of said spring arm, a pin *journalled in said yoke and mounted in the slot in the lever on the outer end of which the tooth brush holding socket is provided, a solenoid carried by the slider and positioned to coast with the spring arm for vibrating said arm, suitable contacts for making and breaking the circuit to the solenoid for efiecting vibration of the arm and lever, and whereby the movement of said slider to regulate the distance between the pivotal connection of the lever and the pin in said yoke varies the amplitude of vibration of said lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 807,299 Marshall Dec. 12, 1905 942,206 Jones Dec. 7, 1909 945,872 Stecker Jan. 11, 1910 985,547 Pryce Feb. 28, 1911 1,591,586 Wahl July 6, 1926 1,734,281 Wagner Nov. 5, 1929 1,825,353 Johnson Sept. 29, 1931 1,832,519 Wheat et a1 Nov. 17, 1931 2,095,956 Bess Oct. 19, 1937 2,227,276 Salit Dec. 31, 1940 2,278,365 Daniels Mar. 31, 1942 2,319,205 Buck May 18, 1943 2,512,499 Loosen June 20, 1950 

